Taoiseach must address latest MGH cutbacks – Kilcoyne

Taoiseach must address latest cutbacks at MGH – Kilcoyne


Áine Ryan

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny must make a statement about further cutbacks implemented yesterday (Monday) at Mayo General Hospital (MGH) which adds to the litany of downgraded medical services provided in the county. That is the view of Independent county councillor, Michael Kilcoyne who has called on Enda Kenny ‘to make a statement about how he proposes to deal with yet further reductions of services in his home town’.
Cllr Kilcoyne was referring to a letter sent to GPs all over the county, on October 31, and seen by The Mayo News, confirming that, from November 17, new referrals at the Department of Clinical Radiology for a number of ultrasound examinations could no longer be facilitated. Signed by Consultant Radiologist, Dr Ronan S Ryan, the letter assured doctors that ‘[all] referrals already on file’ would be honoured.
Dr Ryan explained in the letter that the reduction in services was ‘primarily due to the retirement’  of a colleague ‘who has heretofore performed all of these examinations or a sufficient volume of them so as to render continuation of the service impractical…’

‘Ironic’
Among the investigations to be stopped are ultrasound evaluations for hernias, blockages to the brain and varicose vein mapping. Cllr Kilcoyne observed that the letter did not suggest where GPs should now refer their patients for such examinations.
“It is ironic that the Taoiseach was in the US at the weekend saying this was a great country in which to raise a family and to grow old while these vital services continue to be cutback in his own constituency. Clearly he wasn’t aware of the 15 or so people on trollies on the corridors of MGH over the weekend,” Cllr Kilcoyne continued.
The Mayo News asked the HSE for a comment on the cutbacks but had not received a response at the time of going to Press last night.